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Date:

Tuesday, 12 December, 2017

Camberley – Be revitalised

We are very pleased to announce that Surrey Heath Borough Council has secured funding from Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to improve the High Street and public spaces in Camberley Town Centre.

SHBC has been awarded a £3.5 million grant from Enterprise M3’s Local Growth Fund. The LEP supports economic growth of areas in the M3 corridor - stretching from Staines-upon-Thames to the New Forest, covering mid to North Hampshire, as well as South and West Surrey. SHBC will add funds of £900k, so the total budget for the project is £4.4 million.

The scheme is an integral part of the strategy to develop Camberley as a major commercial centre. It is estimated that the improvements could lead to an increase in the number of people coming into the town centre by 20% over a 10 year period. Other potential economic benefits expected to be generated by the scheme include more 100 jobs, with a total value of over £14m.

In addition to substantial structural improvement to The High Street, which will include widening the pavements, improving road and pavement surfaces; the project will also incorporate installation of public art and improved public seating and walkways in Knoll Walk and Princess Way.

Plans were shared earlier this year as part of the public consultation and you can see artists’ impressions of the completed works on the images below.

SHBC will consult with affected retailers, pubs and restaurants in The High Street. We will also work with key groups who may be affected by the structural changes including taxi firms and disability groups. The artist who we commission for the art projects will consult with local community groups to ensure the art brings together key attributes and features of Camberley.

Cllr Moira Gibson, Leader, SHBC said:

“Securing this funding is another key milestone in the regeneration of Camberley Town Centre. The improved High Street will complement Park Street and The Atrium and the extensive renovations taking place in The Square Shopping centre. We look forward to bringing an improved Town Centre to our residents and visitors very soon.”

Dr Mike Short CBE, Chairman of the Enterprise M3 LEP said:

“We are delighted to be supporting this project, which underpins our plans for economic growth and better quality of life in the Blackwater Valley. These improvements to Camberley Town Centre will help meet the wider challenges and objectives identified in our Strategic Economic Plan by promoting town centre renewal to secure inward investment and create vibrant communities.”

We envisage works to start late 2018.

About Local Growth Fund

Local Enterprise Partnerships are playing a vital role in driving forward economic growth across the country, helping to build a country that works for everyone.

That’s why by 2021 Government will have invested over £12bn through the Local Growth Fund, allowing LEPs to use their local knowledge to get all areas of the country firing on all cylinders.

Analysis has shown that every £1 of Local Growth Fund invested could generate £4.81 in benefits.

Further information

If you would like some further facts about the Fund, or the wider regeneration work going on across the country, please contact DCLG press office by emailing NewsDesk@communities.gsi.gov.uk in the first instance to request any additional information you might need.

Some additional key facts

There are 38 LEPs covering the whole of England

The government has awarded £9.1bn in three rounds of Growth Deals to local areas to drive economic growth.

LEPs are investing in a wide range of projects informed by detailed analysis of the most pressing economic needs in each of their areas, including transport, skills, business support, broadband, innovation and flood defences.